An interesting look back in time

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

I remembered today that Bush had said something completely nonsensical about war in the first debate he had with Al Gore. I went googling for a transcript and found it:

BUSH: I believe the role of the military is to fight and win war and, therefore, prevent war from happening in the first place.

He smirked happily after that sentence and apparently thought it was REALLY clever, cause he said it TWICE.

While looking for it, though, I came accross the following:

LEHRER: New question.

How would you go about, as president, deciding when it was in the national interest to use U.S. force? Generally.

BUSH: Well, if it's in our vital national interests. And that means whether or not our territory -- our territory is threatened, our people could be harmed, whether or not our alliances -- our defense alliances are threatened, whether or not our friends in the Middle East are threatened. That would be a time to seriously consider the use of force.

Secondly, whether or not the mission was clear, whether or not it was a clear understanding as to what the mission would be.

Thirdly, whether or not we were prepared and trained to win, whether or not our forces were of high morale and high standing and well-equipped.

And finally, whether or not there was an exit strategy.

[cthrumatrix]

1. funny how our MEDIA still has "no bush recall"...must be their PC's

[Kipling]

2. ...that's my sig.

Damn, I wish Blair would say stupid stuff like that. British politicians who make slips of the tongue tend to get absolutely crucified... I suppose the novelty has sort of worn off in the States after 5 years.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

4. It doesn't make any sense

When he said it the first time, I thought that maybe he had mangled the remark, but then he said it again, later, exactly the same way.

What surprised me when I went to look for it, though, was his thoughts on how we shouldn't use force without an exit plan, or proper military equipment, blah blah blah.

[Ravy]

3. Perhaps he meant that if there was an exit strategy,

he would NOT support it. You cannot rule the world by giving back your hard-won ground.